Means for pressing the bottoms of shoes



Oct. 13, 1936. I c PEPIN 2,057,052

MEANS FOR PRESSING THE BOTTOMS OF SHOES Filed May 23, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l wad/W Oct. 13, 1936.

c. H. PEPIN 2,057,052

MEANS FOR PRESSING THE BOTTOMS OF SHOES Filed May 23, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet .2

Fig.2.

Oct. 13, 1936. c. H. PEPIN MEANS FOR PRESSING THE BOTTOMS OF SHOES,

Filed May 23, 1935 4' Sheets-Sheet 3 Wwvmkz 4 (6% 4 igAL.

Oct. 13, 1936. PENN 2,057,052

MEANS FOR PRESSING THE BOTTOMS OF SHOES Filed May 23, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 7.

Patented Oct. 13, 1936 MEANS FOR PRESSING THE BOTTOMS OF SHOES Charles H. Pepin, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation 01' New Jersey v Application May 23, 1935, Serial No. 23,053 In Great Britain April 3, 1935 18 Claims.

This invention relates to means for pressing the bottoms of shoes, and more particularly to means for applying pressure and preferably also heat to the lasted margin of an upper overlying '2 an insole to prepare the shoe better for the reception of an outsole, as is a frequent practice in the manufacture of some kinds of shoes. The invention is herein illustrated as applied to pressing means of the same general character as disclosed in a copending application of C. W. Greene, Serial No. 22,051, filed on May 17, 1935, comprising a pressing device or unit for engaging the bottom of the forepart of a shoe and a toe rest movable to press the shoe upon the device, the

" pressing means being incorporated in a bed-lastingmachine; but it is to be understood that in its more general aspects the invention is not limited to a constructionof that character or to means which is part of a lasting machine.

An object of the invention is to afford increased insurance under all conditions against any undesirable loosening of the lasted upper at the edge of the toe end of I the insole by'the pressure applied to the margin of the upper on the bottom of the insole. For the purpose in view, the construction herein shown comprises means which by engagement with the heel end of the shoe not only prevents any displacement of the shoe lengthwise in a heelward direction in 1 the pressing operation, but also imparts to the shoe a short toe-ward movement along the pressing device so that the 'device has an inward wiping action on the margin of the toe end of the upper. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention a heel rest engaging the-heel-end face of the shoe is operated to impart such toeward movement to the shoe by mechanism which is itself operated by a movement of the pressing device or unit resulting from the pressure of the shoe thereon. To facilitate the movement of the shoe by theheel rest, the toe rest is so mounted as to permit" it to move with the shoe. In order that the shoe may be readily presented by the operator in position for the pressing operation, the heelrest in the construction shown is further so controlled that it occupies initially a position comparatively remote from the shoe and is. movable by the operator to a position determined by the shoe, after which it is operated as above described.

As disclosed in the above-mentioned copending application, the pressing device herein shown comprises a plate which is flexibly conformable to the contour of the bottom of the toe and ballportions of the shoein response to pressure of" the shoe thereon. In order to increase the pressure on the margin of the toe end of the upper as compared withthe pressure applied at the ball portion of the shoe, the present invention provides an additional flexible plate arranged to reinforce the above-mentioned plate opposite the toe portion only of the shoe.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a portion of a bed-lasting machine provided with pressing means constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pressing means, illustrating the position of a shoe in relation there- Fig. 3 shows the pressing means partly in lefthand side elevation and partly in section, and illustrates the positions of the parts prior to the application of any substantial .pressure to the shoe;

Fig. 4 is a plan view mainly of the bottompressing device or unit, with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to a portion of Fig. 3, but illustrating the positions of the parts with the shoe under pressure;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the toe rest and a portion of its supporting means, with parts broken away;

Fig. 7 shows a portion of the pressing means in rear elevation;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the shoe and the main bottom-pressing plate, as the plate appears with the shoe under pressure; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the forepart of the shoe after it has been operated upon by the pressing means.

Similarly to the disclosure of the above-mentioned copending application, the shoe-pressing means is herein shown as incorporated in a bedlasting machine of a well-known type, characteristic features of which, relating especially to the lasting of the toe end of a shoe, are described in detail, for example, in United States Letters Patent No. 1,284,870, granted on November12, 1918 upon an application of Matthias Brock. The construction of parts of the machine other than the shoe-pressing means will therefore be referred to only very briefly. The shoe is supported for the lasting operation on a spindle H] which enters the spindle hole in the heel end of the last and on a toe rest l2, and its heel end is engaged and clamped by a heel band [4. For wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last and inwardly over an insole on the last there are provided toe-embracing wipers, a portion of one of which is shown at l6, these wipers being advanced and closed by a hand lever l8. Controlledbyvthe; same hand lever is a toe band 20 'whichembraces and clamps the upper around the toe end in' the construction shown in the previously menof the last, this toe band, however, being sometimes omitted. The wipers and the toe band-are supported on a vertically movable slide 22 connected by a link 24 to a double-actingtreadle 26 by the use of which the operator raises the wipers to wipe the upper upwardly'and also forces them.

down upon the shoe bottom during or after their inward wiping moveme ts. 11?

For applying pressure and heat to the margin of l the forepart of the lasted upper, there is sup-- ported on a frame member 28 of the machine, in a' location somewhat higher and farther rearwardly than the position occupied by the shoe'in the'last ing operation but within convenient reach of the operator in his normal workingposition in front.

of the machine, a bottom-pressing device or unit 29 generally similar to the device'shown in the above-mentioned 'copending' application, the device being mounted in a manner-hereinafter described on a bracket 30 fast on the member 28. 30-

The pressing device 29 comprises a casting 32 on which there is secured a substantially rectangular hollow casting 34 which serves as a holder.

for a group of loose metal balls 36 supported underneath by means hereinafter described. These balls, some only of which are shown in Figs. 3 and 5, are confined laterally in part by the walls of the casting 34 and in part by a row of parallel pins 38 slidingly mounted in the casting and arranged to extend all the way around the upperpor'tionof the group of balls, the pins being near enough together to prevent escape of any of the balls- The pins 38 are pressed upwardly bysprings 40 which engage enlarged heads 42 on their lower ends, these heads serving by engagement with the casting 34'to limit upward movements of the pins;

Supported loosely at'its 'marginon the upper ends of the pins 38 is a'thin flexible resilient metal plate 44 arranged to engage the margin of the upper overlying the forepartof 'the insole, this plate being loosely confined'above by a rim 46 secured to the casting 34. This rim is so formed as not to extend overthat portion ofthe casting 34 which lies under the bottom of a shoe at the rear of the forepart in the pressing operation; and in this location also the casting has a recess 48 therein to insure against contact with a-shoe under any conditions. The plate 44 rests on thegroup of balls 36, as well as upon the upper ends of the pins 38, the balls substantially filling the space within which they are confined but'b'eing loose enough to permit them to adjustthemselves with the plate 44 to the contour of the bottom of the shoe, after which they serve by theirresistance to increase the pressure of the plate on the shoe.

The plate 44 has therein a slit (Fig. 4 ex-' tending in a direction lengthwise of the shoe tioned; copending application, by a plurality of 'leafisprings 56 arranged to extend lengthwise of the shoe in superposed contiguous relation to one anothenthese springs being secured at the ends thereof which are nearest the toe end of the shoe between the casting 32 and the casting 34, the latfter'being provided with an opening to receive the springs. "Thetwo upper springs 56 are of the same lengthwith their free ends opposite'the ball portion of the shoe, but the others decrease progressively in length toward the bottom of the group of springs, this construction serving to increase the 'yieldability of the portions of the springs which underlie the ball portion of the shoe as comparedto the portions underlying the toe of the shoe. Mounted in the 'casting 34 and extend-.

ingsubstantially all'the way around the group of balls 36 is an electrlcalheating unit 58 to which electrical current is supplied through a control box 60 fast on one side of the casting 34. It will be understoodthat by this means the balls and the plates 44 and 52 are maintained in a heated condition. e

The above-described bottom-pressing device 2 is constructed and arranged to receive a shoe placedthereon bottom downward, the pressing plate 44 being inclined somewhat forwardly and downwardly toward the operator's working posi-.

tion to'facilitate the presentation 01' the shoe to the device. After the shoe has been placed on the device it is forced downwardly by means hereinafter described to cause the device to apply the required pressure tothe margin of the upper.

Before the pressure is thus applied the springs 56 are substantially straight, as shown in Fig. 3, and in the pressing operation they yield more or less as illustrated in Fig. 5 while opposing greater resistance to the depression of the plates 44 and 52 under the toe than they do to the depres sion of the portions of the plate '44 which underlie the ball of the shoe. Relatively greater pressure is accordingly applied to the margin of the upper at the toe portion where comparatively heavy pressure is often needed because of the gathering of the'margin over the insole, and the so j pressure at the toe portion is further increased,

asabove described, by reason of the fact that the plate 52 underlies the plate 44 in that location It will be understood, however, that since the plate 52 is loosely mounted under the plate 44, so that contiguous portions of the two plates may slip relatively to each other as the'plates are flexed in; conforming to the contour of the shoe bottom, they conform more readily to the co'ntour'than would a single plate of a thickness equal t'o'thatof both the plates.

The shoe is forced downwardly to cause the pressing device to apply its pressure to the margin of the upper as above described by a. toe rest 6| arranged to engage the shoe onthe top of the forepart and preferably long enough to extend somewhat rearwardly of the toe portion of the shoe. This toe rest comprises a hollow flexible member 62 which may be made of rubber and is preferably molded to conform approximately to of different shapes while nevertheless applying firm pressure to each shoe. The member 62 is clamped by an interior plate 66 and screws 68 to a block I0 movably mounted as hereinafter described on the upper end portion of an arm I2. This upper end portion of the arm is curved laterally and downwardly so thatthetoe rest occupies a position over the bottom-pressing device 29. The arm I2 is secured to the upper end of a rod 14 which is'vertically movable in a bearing in the frame of the machine and is operated by means of substantially the same construction as provided heretofore in machines of the illustrated type for operating a similar rod which carries a shoe holddown member, as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,120,822, granted on December 15, 1914 upon an application of E. L. Keyes. As therein more fully shown and described, the rod 14 is connected by a link I6 (Fig. 1) to a treadle' 18' which is normally held in upraised position by a spring 80 and is locked in depressed position by mechanism comprising a pawl 82- arranged to engage ratchet teeth 84 formed on a vertically movable bar 86 connected to the treadle; By depression of the treadle the toe rest BI is moved downwardly into engagement with the shoe and is operated to press the shoe downwardly upon the pressing device, after which it is maintained by the pawl 82 in position to hold the shoe under pressure as long as desired. To release the shoe the pawl is operated by a pivoted member 88 arranged to be engaged by the knee of the operator and connected to the pawl by a link 90, as more fully disclosed in the lastmentioned Letters Patent.

The present invention provides means for insuring against any loosening of the lasted toe end of the upper by the pressure applied at its margin, this means being so constructed as not only to hold the shoe against any lengthwise displacement in a heelward direction, but also to impart to the shoe a short toeward movement so that the pressing plate 44 has an inward wiping action on the margin of the upper around the end of the toe. The shoe is thus controlled through a heel rest 92 which partially embraces the heel end of the shoe and is provided with a leather facing 94 for engagement with the end face of the upper, the member 92 being secured to the forward ends of two supporting rods 95 ,which extend lengthwise of the shoe at the opposite sides thereof. The rods 96 are slidingly mounted near their rear ends in sleeve members is supported in an upward extension II2 of the bracket 30. The two sleeve members 98 are connected rigidly together by a cross bar I I4. It will thus be evident that when the bell-crank lever I04 is turned in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3) the two sleeve members 98 supported on the depend ing arms I 00 and I02 of the lever are carried rearwardly, i. e., toward the left as the parts are viewed in Fig. 3; and it is through such movement of the members 98 that the rods 96 are ,operated to impart the-lengthwise movement to the "shoe. For 'this purpose each of the members 98 has pivotally mounted thereon-a pawl II6 ar ranged to engage ratchet teeth I I8 on thecorrespending rod 96 and controlled as hereinafter:

described. 1

The bell-crank lever I04 is operated through downward movement of the shoe-pressing device I or unit 29 in response to the pressure of the. shoe thereon. For this purpose the casting '32.

is vertically movable along guide flanges I20 on the bracket 30 and is connected to the arm formed in an arm I of the bracket and at its upper end in a socket in the casting 32 yield-. ingly resists the downward movement of the.

pressing device, the spring' being held vertical by a pin I26 mounted within it. Upward movement of the pressing device under the influence of the spring I24 is limited by a rod I28 which is threaded at its upper end in the casting 32' and is slidingly mounted in the arm I25, this'rod:

having integral therewith at its lower end a cylindrical plunger I30 which is seated in a corresponding cylindrical recess provided in a member I32 slidingly'mountedon the rod and arranged to engage the lower face of the arm I25; Accordingly, the normal height of the pressing device 29 is determined by the rod I28 throughthe plunger I30 and the member I32, and these parts cooperate also to provide an air check or dash pot for cushioning the upward movement of the pressing device under the influen'ce of the spring I24 when the shoe isre-j leased from pressure. A spring I36 bearing'at its lower'end on a flange I34 formed on the plunger I30 and at its upper end on a shoulder:

formed on the member I32 causes a relative separating'movement of this member and the plunger in the downward movement of the rod I28, the

plunger. In the upward movement of the pressing device the air trapped between the plunger and the member I32 produces the cushioning efiect' desired, the plunger fitting loosely enough in the opening in the member I32 to permit the air gradually to leak out around its periphery, since the air cannot escape past the valve I40 which is closed at this time.

When the parts are in their normal positions the pawls II6 are held out of engagement with the ratchet teeth I I8 on the rods 96 by arms I adjustably secured to the casting 32, as illustrated in Fig. 3, these arms acting on the pawls against the resistance of springs I48 which move the pawls into engagement with the ratchet teeth when the arms are carried downwardly by the casting 32. Accordingly, the rods 96 are initially uncontrolled by the pawls, and at that time they are held in such positions that the heel rest 92 does not interfere with the placing of the shoe upon the pressing plate 44. For this purpose one of the rods 96 has thereon a spring I50 which abuts at one end' against the corresponding sleeve member 98 and at the other end against a collar I52 fast on the rod, movements of the" two rods under the influence of this spring being limited by the engagement of collars I54 fast thereon with therear ends of the sleevemem bers 98. Aftermounting the shoe on the;press-" ing plate 44 and forcing-the toe rest 6l downwardly:by the treadle 18 far-enough to engage .and clamp the shoe, the operator pushes-the heel rest 92 rearwardly into abutting relation to the heel end of the shoe and holds it in that position as he further depresses the treadle. ,As,

soon as the pressing device has been forced downwardly with the shoe far enough to release the pawls I I6 and permit them to engage the ratchet teeth II8 the operator need no longer hold the heel rest against the shoe. It will'be evi-.

dent that the heel rest is moved rearwardlyto differences in the lengths of different shoes, and that in whatever position it may be the pawls serve to lock it to the sleeve, members 98, ai'terv 7 thereon. In order to increase the final pressure the amount of work required of the operator in' on the shoe there is provided upon therod I28 a spring I56 which is heavier than the spring I24 and is arranged-to cooperate with nuts I58 adjustably threaded on the rod to oppose increased resistance to the downward movement of the pressing device. The nuts I58 are spaced from the upper end of the spring I56 a variable distance determined by their adjustment, so that this spring is not effective until near the end of the downward movement of the pressing device after the shoe has been moved lengthwise as required by the heel rest 92. This serves to lessen depressing the treadle18.

In order to hold the heel rest 92 normally at the proper height to operate on the shoe, against the resistance of the force of gravity which tends to swing it downwardly about the "axis of the pins 99, there is providedalight spring I60 connected at its upper end to a pin I62 on the cross bar H4 and at its lower end to 'a. pin I64: The position in which the,

on the bracket 30. heel rest is held by this spring is determined by a stop screw I66 threaded in the cross bar II4 with its lower -end in engagement with the bracket 30. It will be evident that by turning this screw the height of the heel rest may be varied. In the short downward movement of the shoe in the pressing operation the heel rest moves with it against the resistance of the light spring I60 by reason of the frictional engagement of the shoe therewith.

In order to facilitate the lengthwise movement of the shoe by the operation of the meansrabove described, the toe rest 6| is so supported and controlled as to permit it to move with the shoe. For this purpose the block 10 is provided with flanges I68 mounted in guideways in the arm 12, so that the block may slide relatively to the arm. The block 10 is controlled by a spring I10 which is compressed as the block moves with the shoe, the spring abutting at one end against an upstanding forked lug I12 on the block. At its other end the spring I10 abuts against an enlarged screw-threaded portion I14 of a rod I16 which extends through the spring and between the arms of the forked lug I12, the portion I14 of the rod being threaded in a plate I18 fast on the arm 12. The normal position of the block 10 relatively to the arm 12 is determined by another forked lug I80 on the block in engagement with one end of the enlarged screw-threada position which will .vary in accordance with ed;,portion- I14 of the rod-I16; By means of a knurled hand wheel I82 the rod I16 may be turned to adjust the block 18 and the toe rest in directions lengthwise of-;the shoe, as may be desirable for operating upon shoes of different sizes or styles.

It will be understoodthat prior to the operation of the pressing means on, the shoe the forepart' of the shoe will have been'previously lasted. If the pressing means is part of abedlasting machine, as herein shown, the operator lasts the toe end of the shoe in the customary manner by use of thetoe wipers I6, preferably using adhesive to fasten the upper'to the insole. The'remainder of the forepart of the shoe at the rear of the toe portion may have been previously lasted, preferably although not necessarily withadhesive, before the shoe comes to this lasting machine, or incase this portion of the shoe'has not been lasted, it may be lasted manually while the shoe is on its support in the lasting machine. When the shoe is ready for the bottom+pressing operation the operator presents it bottom downward with its forepart in contact with the pressing plate and then by means of the treadle 18 moves the toe rest 6| into clamping engagement with the top of the 'forepart of the shoe, as illustrated in Fig. 3. He then pushesthe heel rest 92 into abutting reselves to the contour of the shoe bottom, and the balls 36 also adjust themselves to the contour of the shoe with the plates and then by their resistance to the downward movement of the shoe increase'the pressure of the plates on the margin of the upper. In the pressing operation the leaf springs 56 yield more or less as illustrated in Fig. 5, and since the portions of the springs which are under the ball portion of the shoe are'more yieldable than the portions which are under the toe of the shoe, as well as by reason of the presence of the additional plate 52 under the toe portion of the shoe, relatively greater pressure is applied to the margin of the upper at the toe portion :where comparatively heavy pressure is often needed because of the gathering of the margin over the insole. This construction further serves to. avoid any undesirable tilting of the shoe by the action of the toe rest thereon if the latter should engage the shoe comparatively near the end of the toe, as might otherwise occur by reason of the fact that the area of the toe portion of the shoebottom is less than that of the ball portion; As the shoe 'is pressed against the plate 44 in the manner described the pins 38 may yield more or less in response to the pressure of the plate ontheir upper ends. In response to the pressure of the shoe thereon the pressing device or unit 29 is forced downwardly. against the resistance of the spring I24, and at the beginning of its downward movement it releases the pawls II6 to permit them to engage the ratchet teeth II8 on the rods 96 and thus lock the heel rest in operating position. As the downward movement of the pressing device continues it acts through the pawls to impart a short rearward movement to the heel rest 92 and thus to move the shoe lengthwise along the plate 44, the toe rest moving with the shoe. Substantially at the endof the downward movement of the pressing device the spring I56 becomes operative to oppose increased resistance to the movement and thus to increase the pressure-on ing-a heated shoe pressing portion arranged .to

the shoe. The shoe is left under pressure; and under the influence of the heat as long as desired, for example while the operator is lasting another shoe, the toe rest being locked in depressed position by the pawl 82. When it is desired to release the shoe from ,pressure the operator presses on the member 88, whereupon the arm 72 is lifted by the spring 80,- the pressing device is returned to its starting position by the spring I 24, and the heel rest is released by the pawls H6 and is returned by the spring ldfl.

.The upward movement of the pressing device is retarded or cushioned by the air check I30, I32. It will be understood that when theshoev is released from pressurethe plates 44 and 52, the balls 36 and the leaf springs56 return to. their initial positions.

7 a heated shoe-pressing portion for engaging and pressing the lasted margin of the upper, means supporting said device in position to receive a shoe carried into contact therewith, .means for efiecting relative movement of said device and the shoe in a direction heightwise of the shoe to cause the device to press the margin of the upper around the end of the toe and along both sides of the forepart simultaneously, and mechanism for also effecting relative movement of said device and the shoe in a direction lengthwise of the shoe while the pressure is thus being applied simultaneously around the end of the toe and along the sides of the forepart to cause the device to wipe the margin of the upper around the end of the toe in an inwarddirection. 4

2. In means for pressing thebottoms of shoes, a device for applying pressure and heat to the bottom of the lasted forepart of a shoe before an outsole is applied to the shoe, said device having a heated shoe-pressing portion arranged to engage and press the lasted margin of the upper,

means movable into engagement with .theshoe to press it upon said device after the shoe has been placed by the operator with the margin of the upper in engagement with said shoe-pressing portion, and means for effecting relative movement of said device and the shoe in a direction lengthwise of the shoe to cause the device to. wipe the margin of the upper around the end of the toe in an inward direction in the pressing. operation.

3. In means for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for applying pressure and heat to the bottom of the lasted forepart of a shoe before an outsole is applied to the shoe, said device having a heated shoe-pressing portion arranged to engage and press the lasted margin of the upper, means supporting said device in position to receive a shoe placed thereon by the operator, means movable into engagement with the top of the shoe to press it upon the device after the shoe has been placed thereon, and mechanism arranged to act at the heel end of the shoe to impart to the shoe a lengthwise toeward movement in the pressing operation.

4. In means for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for applying pressure and heat to the bottom of the lasted forepart of a shoe before an outsole is applied to the shoe, said device havengage and press the lasted margin of the upper, andmechanism'arranged to engage the heel-end faceof-the shoe and to impart tothe shoe by such engagement a lengthwise toeward movement to cause said device to wipe the margin of the ,upper aroundthe end of the toe in an inward direction in the pressing operation.

5.' In means for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for engaging and pressing the margin of the lasted forepart of a shoe upper overlying an insole, means for effecting relative movement of said;device and the shoe in a'direction height- :wiseoftheshoe to cause the device to press the margin of the upper, and mechanism arranged toast in; response to ,theapplication of the pres- ,sure to the shoeto effect relative movement of said device and the shoein a direction lengthwise of the shoe to cause the device to wipe the margin of the upper around the end of the toe in a directioninwardly from the edge of the insole.

6. In means for pressing the bottoms of shoes,

:a device for engaging and pressing the margin 'of the lasted forepart of a shoe upper overlying an insole, means for effecting relative movement of, said device and the shoe in a direction heightwiseof the shoeto .causethe device to press the margin of the upper, a, heelv rest for engaging the heel-end'face ofthe shoe, and mechanism device; .said pressing device being. movable in response to the pressure of the shoe thereon, and mechanism arranged to be operated by such :moveinent of" the pressing device to effect rela- "tive movement of the device and the shoe in a direction lengthwise of the shoe in the pressing I operation.

8. In means for pressing the bottoms of shoes,

.a-device for engaging and pressing the margin of the lasted forepart of a'shoe upper overlying an insole, means for pressing the shoe upon said device; said pressing'devicebeing movable in response to'the pressure of the shoe thereon, a

.heel rest movable into engagement with the heel- -end face of the shoe after the shoe has been presented in'engagement with said device, and mech- ,anism operative in response to the movement of s'aid'pressing device for locking said heel rest in .shoeengaging position. i 9.--In meansfor pressing the bottoms of shoes, a devicesfor engaging. and pressing the margin of the lasted forepart of a shoe upper overlying an insole, means for pressing the shoe upon said device, said pressing device being movable in response to the pressure of the shoe thereon, a heel rest for engaging the heel-end face of the shoe, and mechanism arranged to act on said heel rest in response to the movement of the pressing device to impart to the shoe a lengthwise movement in the pressing operation.

10. In means for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for engaging and pressing the bottom of the forepart of a shoe after lasting but before an outsole is applied to the shoe, a heel rest movable into engagement with the heel-end face of the shoe after the shoe has been presented in engagement with said pressing device, and mechanism for operating said heel rest to impress the shoe upon the device, a heel rest arranged to engage the heel-end face of the shoe, and means for operating said heel rest to impart to the shoe a lengthwise toeward movement in the course of the movement of the toe rest to press the shoe upon the device.

12. In means for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for engaging and pressing the bottom of the forepart of a shoe after lasting but before an outsole is applied to the shoe, a toe rest arranged to engagethe shoe at the top ofthe forepart and movable to press the shoe upon said device, the device being yieldingly movable in response to the pressure of the shoe thereon, a

7 heel rest arranged to engage the heel-end face of the shoe, and mechanism controlled by the movement of said device for operating the heel rest to impart to the shoe a lengthwise toeward movement in the pressing operation.

13. In means for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for engaging and pressing the bottom of the forepart of a shoe after lasting but before an outsole is applied to the shoe, means-for pressing the shoe upon said device, the device being yieldingly movable in response to the pressure of the shoe thereon, a heel rest arranged to engage the heel-end face of the shoe, a support for said heel rest movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe to permit the heel rest to be moved into engagement with the shoe by' the operator, said support having teeth thereon, and mechanism arranged to be operated by the movement of said pressing device for engaging said teeth and operating the heel rest to impart to the shoe a lengthwise toeward movement in the pressing operation. 7

' 14. In means for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for'engaging and pressing the bottom of the forepart of a shoe after lasting but before an outsole. is applied to'the shoe, means for pressing the shoe upon said device, the device being movable in response to the pressure of the shoe thereon, mechanism arranged to be operated by the movementof the pressing device to impart to the shoe a lengthwise movement in the pressing operation, a spring for yieldingly resisting the movement of the pressing'device, and another spring arranged to become operative in the course of the movement of the pressing bottom of the forepart of a shoe after lasting 5 but before an outsole is applied to the shoe, a toe rest arranged to engage the shoe at the top of the forepart, means for effecting relative movement of said device and toe rest to cause the device to press the shoe, and mechanism for lo moving the shoe lengthwise relatively to the pressing device in the pressing operation, said too rest being so mounted as to permit it to move in a direction lengthwise of the shoe in response to action of the shoe thereon as the shoe receives its lengthwise movement.

16. In means for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for engaging and pressing the bottom of the forepart of a shoe after lasting but before an outsole is applied to the shoe, a to restarranged to engage the shoe at the top of the forepart, an arm supporting said toe rest and movable to cause the toe rest to press the shoe upon said device, a heel rest arranged to engage v the heel-end face of the shoe, and means for operating said heel rest to impart to the shoe n lengthwise toeward movement in the pressing 1 of a shoe after lasting but before an outsole is applied to the shoe, said device comprising a V shoe-engaging plate arranged to engage the bot-"'86 tom of the shoe at the toe and ball portions and flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, and another flexible plate arranged to reinforce said first-named plate in a location opposite the 40' toe portion only of the shoe bottom. I

'18. In means for pressing the bottoms of shoes,

0, device for pressing the bottom of the forepart of a shoe after lasting but before an outsole is applied to the shoe, said device comprisinga' g metallic shoe-engaging plate arranged to engage the bottom of the shoe at the toe and ball portions and flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, a group of metal balls arranged'to adjustfig themselves to the contour of the'shoewith said plate and thereafter to increase the pressureof the plate on the shoe, and another'fiexible metallic plate loosely mounted between said firstnamed'plate and the group of balls in alocation 5 opposite the toe portion only of the shoe.

CHARLES H. PEPIN. 

